Meal planning makes our household run smoother, saves time and money and keeps everyone from going hungry!! But it is work and takes intention and planning. Sometimes it seems like a hassle- do you ever struggle with figuring out what to make for dinner???
My 4 Top Steps to Meal Plan Success
1. Taking a survey of what’s in my pantry, fridge and freezer.
Goal- use what I already have- because it’s already been paid for and there is nothing worse then having to throw away something because it didn’t get used before it’s expiration date.
2. Review our schedule (this helps to not plan a meal that has more steps on a night that is super busy)
3. Plan the grocery list at the same time as meal planning and surveying fridge/freezer/pantry
I have tried many different grocery lists. This is my favorite and what we are currently using. On Google Keep making lists and sharing them is super easy! Then multiple people can add to lists and if they pick items up they can select it so that it gets taken off of the list!
4. Prep ahead of time
- Cook or prep meat
- Wash and cut veggies
- Separate things into containers as needed
Basically anything that will take a step or 2 away the night of your meal is helpful to do before hand!
Monday:
Meatloaf
Meatloaf
- 1# ground beef
- 1# sausage
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup of flour (I used Cassava or Almond Flour)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- bacon
- Mix all the ingredients except the bacon & put into a loaf pan
- Lay bacon across both ways with bacon and tuck it under the loaf
- Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 15 minutes (until completely done and there is no pink in the center)
To reuse this meal:
- reheat as is
- crumble up a piece and put it over rice (for a rice bowl)
- have a Meatloaf sandwich
- cook up some diced sweet potatoes and crumble it in all together!
Carrots
Green Beans
Tuesday:
Tacos cauliflower rice bowls
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Wednesday:
Leftovers
Thursday:
Hawaiian Chicken Bowls by Fed and Fit~click here for the recipe
First of all Cassie Joy at Fed and Fit is amazing- she has cookbooks, recipes on her website and a really fun to follow Instagram!!
For this recipe- if you click on the above link and go down to the bottom, there is a slow cooker version that I will be using!
Friday:
Cookout~
Steak
Diced Potatoes with olive oil, rosemary, salt & pepper
Salad
Saturday:
Cauliflower Crust Pizza (there are also some pre-made crusts if you don’t have time to make it from scratch)
- Riced Cauliflower
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp parsley
- 1 tsp basil
- spaghetti sauce
- hamburger
- cheese
Cook the riced cauliflower according to package
Drain the cauliflower rice really well. The more water you can get out, the crispier the crust will be!
Add in the egg
Put on a cookie sheet on aluminum foil & flatten it out
Cover with an egg wash and then seasonings
Bake for 16 min at 450 , then flipped and baked for another 5 min
Put desired sauce & toppings on the top and bake for another 8 min or so
Sunday:
Turkey Burgers
Sweet Potato fries
Asparagus
Shop my FAVORITE kitchen tools:
Thanks for stopping by & Happy Meal Planning!! For even more weekly menu inspiration- check out Organizing Junkie’s page!
Faith ♥
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